2. City Of God

This sprawling, emotional rollercoaster of a film does a fantastic job of showing how the children of Brazil’s favelas can easily get sucked into the vicious drug trade. Amidst a large ensemble cast, directors Fernando Mireilles and Katia Lund follow the paths of two boys growing up in the lawless slums of Rio de Janeiro. One is Rocket, the son of a fisherman who aspires to be a photographer. The other is Lil Ze, a thug who starts out as a thief but quickly graduates to a murderous psychopath who takes over the city’s drug trade. Over and over we’re shown how children are used as pawns in the business - they’re hired to perform assassinations, are brutally punished for their failures, and are ultimately shown to be the next generation of drug gangsters, despite their painfully young age. Beyond being a harrowing tale of crime and revenge, City of God is also impeccably crafted, its camera moves and editing style giving it a relentless energy. This abundance of style keeps the viewer entranced even when the subject matter begs you to cover your eyes.